Title, Author, and Why I Chose This Book The title of the book I chose is The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan. new series by Rick Riordan, this is the first of the three books that have comeThe Lost Hero is a I choses to read this book because prior to now, I read the I have fallen in love with the Percy Jackson Series, by Rick Riordan, and I have fallen in love with it. I was eager to read the spin-off series to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series! Rick Riordan is also one of my all-time favorite authors.
(Festus)
Genre
The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan fits into many genres. These genres includeAdolescent Fiction, Fantasy, Greek and Roman Mythology, and Adventure. Adolescent Fiction is a genre of The Lost Hero because it is a fiction book made to appeal to younger people. It appeals to them because they can relate better to people their age, like Jason, Piper, and Leo, who are all around the age of fifteen, rather than people younger or older than them. This makes the book that much more interesting, and engaging for the reader. The Lost Hero falls under genre of fantasy because it is based on events that could never happen in real life (like flying on a life-sized dragon who breathes fire). Jason, Piper, and Leo also have their own special ability that could only happen in the books, because of their parentage. “I have lightning and wind powers," Jason reminded him. "Piper can turn beautiful and charm people into giving her BMWs. You're no more a freak than we are. And, hey, maybe you can fly, too. Like jump off a building and yell 'Flame on!' "Leo snorted. "If I did that, you would see a flaming kid falling to his death, and I would be yelling something a little stronger than 'Flame on!” They are demi-gods, meaning half Olympian god, and half mortal. This is a reason that The Lost Hero falls under Greek and Roman Mythology; this is where they get their special powers from-Jason from Jupiter, Piper from Aphrodite, and Leo from Hephaestus. The Lost Hero is without a doubt falls under Adventure. The whole book is based off of Jason, Piper, and Leo's dangerous quest to rescue Hera and stop Gaea from awakening, where they battle monsters, and put their friendship, trust and loyalty to the test.
Summary
Jason knew the moment he woke up with absolutely no memory of who he was at the back of a school bus, that something is seriously wrong. Then there is Leo, who claims to be his best friend and Piper, who is supposed to be his girlfriend-both of whom he doesn't remember. But when Annabeth tells them that they are children of Greek Gods and Camp Half-Blood is the only safe haven for children like them, they have no idea what to expect next. As one bad news follows the next, there are rumors of a missing hero named Percy Jackson, and a Goddess who has supposedly been captured by unknown evil forces. Jason, Piper and Leo are three of the seven heroes of the Great Prophecy and they have to complete a dangerous new quest by the Winter Solstice before the evil wakes.
Characters
Jason Grace, Piper McLean, Leo Valdez
Jason Grace is one of the main characters in this book. "I'm the son of Jupiter, I'm a child of Rome, consul to demigods, praetor of the First Legion. I slew the Trojan sea monster, I toppled the black throne of Kronos, and destroyed Titan Krios with my own hands." He is a demi-god son of Jupiter, and he has blonde hair and icy blue eyes. At the start of this novel, Jason suffers from amnesia, he cannot remember whom he was, where he was from or how he ended up in a school bus filled with kids his age, or even his own age. Jason also had a tendency to call the gods by their Roman names (Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto etc.), this is because he is not a Greek demigod, he is a Roman demigod. Ivlivus is Jason's weapon; it is an Imperial Gold coin that turns into a double-edged sword or lance depending on whether it lands on heads or tails. He also has an older sister named Thalia Grace, although Thalia was born under the Greek aspect of Zeus, and Jason was born under the Roman aspect of Jupiter. Jason was given to Hera (Juno as he would call her) as a champion at the age of two. Jason harbors his feelings for Piper, but towards the close of the novel, it is hinted that he was romantically involved with another girl named Reyna beforehand.
Piper McLean is the demigod daughter of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty and the Cherokee movie star Tristan McLean. Being a daughter of Aphrodite, Piper McLean is given natural beauty, but tries to downplay it by wearing simple clothes, and cutting her hair at different lengths so that is looks choppy and uneven, and wearing no makeup. “Piper gave Lit a friendly sorry-about-that smile. Even with her hair messed up and wearing two-day-old clothes, she looked extremely cute, and Jason felt a little jealous she was giving Lit that smile.” Piper is fifteen years old; she has chocolate brown hair and irises like a kaleidoscope that change color. She is Jason's girlfriend, but is determined to win his heart when she learns that their relationship had been a trick of the Mist. Piper owns a dagger named Katoptris, -meaning looking glass- who's pervious owner was Helen of Troy. She has the very rare ability of Charmspeak. Charmspeak is a type of persuasion or hypnotism which allows the speaker to convince someone else to do or get whatever they wan, but the strength of the command depends upon the tone or emotion of the charmspeaker's voice, as well as their skill and experience charmspeaking. "Piper smiled at the ranger again. “You don’t have a problem with an under-aged unlicensed kid borrowing your copter, do you? We’ll return it.” “I-“ The pilot nearly choked on the words, but she got them out: “I don’t have a problem with that.”
Leo Valdez was born in Houston Texas, and is the son of Hephaestus, god of forges and fire, and Esperanza Valdez, who used to be a mechanic. Hera used to keep an eye on Leo as a child disguised as Tia Callida, who was supposed to be his babysitter. When Leo was eight, he lost his mother in a fire he had caused because of Gaea. After his mother's death, Leo went from foster home to foster home until he ended up at the Wilderness school where he met Jason and Piper. Leo claims to be Jason's best friend at the beginning of the book, and although that was a trick of the Mist, he and Jason do become good friends as they get to know each other on their quest. Leo has the extremely rare ability-given to only a few Hephaestus children-to summon and manipulate heat and fire, he is completely immune to being burned by fire. "You can’t burn me.” Demi-god children of Hephaestus with this ability are said to only appear when horrible things are destined to occur. Leo always falls for girls who are way out of his league. He does not have a weapon like swords, or spears-Leo has a magic tool belt-anything that can be found in the average workshop can be pulled out of the tool belt
(Rachel Dare)
Big Ideas and Themes
Fate and Destiny are the biggest themes in The Lost Hero. Time and time again Jason Grace, Piper McLean, and Leo Valdez realize that they have been specifically chosen to rescue Queen Hera, and fulfill the Prophecy of Seven. The Lost Hero is focused around the prophecy issues by Rachel Dare-the current Oracle at Camp Half-Blood. "Child of Lightning, beware the earth" is the first line of the prophecy, meaning that Jason, as a child of Jupiter has to beware of the awakening of Gaea (the earth). "The giants' revenge the seven shall birth", this means that the Giants will rise up against the Olympians, and cause the appearance of the seven heroes of the Great Prophecy. "The forge and dove shall break the cage", the forge and dove represent Leo and Piper, the children of Hephaestus and Aphrodite. Leo and Piper have to work together to break the cage Hera was imprisoned in. "And death unleash, through Hera's rage.", this is the last and final line of the prophecy, Hera goes into her true Divine Form and kills all of the monsters except Porphyrion, almost killing Jason in the process. Since the Doors of Death are open, however, Piper uses her charmspeak to revive him, and bring his soul back from Hades. In the end, the prophecy was fulfilled- Hera was saved from her prison- and everything happened as it was said in the prophecy. No one can tamper with fate-not even the gods- if it is foretold in a prophecy, the prophecy must and will be carried out; Jason, Piper, and Leo all had their own role to play in the prophecy, and in the end, they fulfilled each of their roles.
(Gaea)
Main Conflict
As the book opens, Jason awakens with amnesia in a school bus full of kids his age on a field trip led by Coach Hedge to the Grand Canyon, next to Piper McLean and Leo Valdez, who say they are his girlfriend and best friend. When they arrive, storm spirits attacks them, and Coach Hedge-who revealed himself to be a satyr- was taken captive. After the battle, a flying chariot arrives to rescue them, and one of the people in it-Annabeth- is upset when she discovers that her missing boyfriend was not there as he should have been. Jason, Piper, and Leo are taken back to Camp Half-Blood, where they meet other Greek demigods like themselves, and are claimed by their Olympian parent-Leo is a son of Hephaestus, Piper is a daughter of Aphrodite, and Jason is a son of Zeus. Jason later discovers that he is the full brother of Zeus’ daughter, and Hunter of Artemis-Thalia Grace. They are given a quest to go save Hera-who has been captured- and prevent Gaea from awakening. Jason is reunited shortly with Thalia, who promises to meet Jason soon at the Wolf House-where Hera is being held captive. Jason, Piper, and Leo rush to Mt. Diablo, where Enceladus kidnapped Piper’s father. They manage to save Mr. McLean, and kill Enceladus, after which they rushed to the Wolf House to save Hera. Although Hera is saved, Porphyrion rises fully, and disappears in a hole in the Earth. Jason’s memory starts returning, and he remembers that he is a roman demi-god son of Jupiter, from a Roman Camp in San Francisco. He realizes that Hera (or Juno) had switched him with Percy Jackson, who will be at the Roman Camp with amnesia, in the hopes that the two camps would work together and defeat the goddess Gaea.
Symbolic Image (130) (I drew Jason's branding tattoo)
Jason is like a bridge between the Greeks and Romans. Hera took him from Camp Jupiter (the Roman version of Camp Half-Blood) and sent him to Camp Half-Blood to earn their trust so that they would be able join forces and fulfill the Great Prophecy (or the Prophecy of Seven). Jason’s branding tattoo is the symbol of a Roman demigod, and it is an act of war for a Roman demigod to be in a Greek demigod camp. The initials SPQR are seen on Jason's arm with an eagle (Jupiter's symbol) and 12 bar lines for his 12 years of service in the legion. SPQR is the motto of the old Roman Empire. It stands for Senatus Populusque Romanus. In English, it translates to The Senate and the People of Rome.
Five Unusual Words 1. Aura- An aura is like a wind nymph, they are gentle breezes
"I'm an aura, sir. Awind nymph, as you might expect, working for the lord of the winds." (408)
2. Charmspeak- Charmspeak is a rare ability that only some children of Aphrodite possess. Charmspeak can be a powerful weapon because it hypnotizes people into doing anything on command.
"'The girl is a Venus spawn,' the lady Cyclops snarled. 'She's using charmspeak on you.'" (260)
3. Venti/Anemoi Thuellia- storm sprits.
"'Venti,' Jason said. 'Storm spirits.' The blonde girl arched an eyebrow. 'You mean anemoi thuellia? That's the Greek term.'" (29)
4. Ambrosia- Ambrosia is food of the gods (usually made in small squares), it can heal most injuries, but it is lethal to mortals. Demigods only use it during emergencies, because an extreme overdose can burn them to ashes.
"'Wait, what was that godly healing stuff they fed you at camp-Rambo food?' 'Ambrosia, dummy,' Piper said through gritted teeth." (240)
5. Earthborn- Earthborn are eight ft. tall giants with six arms that look like clay statues. They have superhuman strength, and they can summon large rocks in their hands.
"'What-what are those?' Her blade reflected the purple light of the bonfire."
''Gegenees'
"'In English?' Leo asked"
"'The Earthborn,' she said" (454)
Similar Existing Works
The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan is similar to The Red Pyramid, and the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series-also by Rick Riordan. This book reminds me of the Kane Chronicle book #1, The Red Pyramid, because in The Red Pyramid, the main characters Sadie and Carter find out that the ancient Egyptian gods are still very much alive. Although The Heroes of Olympus is a spin-off series from the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the first book in both series’ have many similarities. The Lightning Thief is similar to The Lost Hero because Percy, Jason, Piper, and Leo had no knowledge that they were demigods, or even that the gods still existed, up until they were brought to Camp Half-Blood. The four of them were also secretly watched over by protectors, who where Grover-in Percy’s case, and Coach Hedge for Jason, Piper, and Leo. Percy’s mother was taken captive by Hades, like the giants took Piper’s father captive. In both books, the main character went on a quest, accompanied by two friends of their choosing. In the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the Great Prophecy took place, and Percy was the ‘Child of the eldest gods’ or in other words, the demigod whom the prophecy was about. Now, in The Heroes of Olympus series, we find out that the next Great Prophecy is coming into play. It is obvious in The Lost Hero that Jason, Piper, and Leo are three of the ‘Seven half-bloods’ of the next Great Prophecy. The other four half-bloods of the Great Prophecy appear in the later books of The Heroes of Olympus series.
Synopsis Percy Jackson is the demigod son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. He wakes up from a very deep sleep with no memory or recollection of his past; the only thing that he does remember is the name Annabeth. Stheno and Euryale, two gorgons who were seeking revenge on Percy because, have been pursuing him since he awoke; the only problem is that they refuse to die. Percy soon finds himself at a Roman camp for half-bloods- Camp Jupiter. There is only one thing that is certain- Percy’s questing days are not over, he and his new friends Frank Zhang and Hazel Levesque find out that they are to play a role in the Great Prophecy. While at the Roman camp, Percy, Frank, and Hazel are issued a quest by Mars himself. If they fail, not only is Camp Jupiter at stake, but Percy’s old life, the gods, and the entire world may be destroyed. Characters
Perseus Jackson- Percy Jackson is the Greek demigod son of Poseidon, and one of the most powerful demigods that have ever existed. He is a natural-born leader, brave, spirited, and has a sarcastic, yet smart sense of humor. Like most demigods, Percy has ADHD and Dyslexia. Percy takes after his father’s good looks; he is six feet tall, has bright sea green eyes, and jet-black hair. Percy’s fatal flaw is over-excessive loyalty, “To save a friend, you would sacrifice the world.” as told to him by Athena. His weapon of choice is a Celestial Bronze sword Anaklusmos, -or Riptide- that turns into a ballpoint pen when not in use, and always returns to Percy’s pocket.
Hazel Levesque- Hazel Levesque is the Roman demigod daughter of Pluto. Hazel’s power -unlike her brother Nico- does not come from the side of Pluto that represents death; Hazel represents the riches in the ground that belong to Pluto. It is more of a curse than a gift though, when she gets nervous or feels afraid, millions of dollars worth of jewels and precious metals start popping up around her. If a person were to touch or take something, that person would meet a sudden and unfortunate end. She is fourteen years old, African-American, has shoulder-length curly golden-brown hair, and gold eyes. She is originally from New Orleans, but she and her mother moved to Alaska-the land beyond the gods- to avoid the protection of Pluto. It was there that she died- seventy years ago. She was resurrected by her half-brother-Nico diAngelo- from the Fields of Asphodel. Hazel has a very bright and out-going personality; she is also very mature for her age. Her weapon of choice is a Spatha- a cavalry sword- that she chooses because of her for for horses.
Frank Zhang- Frank Zhang is the Roman demigod son of Mars, and his mortal mother was in the military, but died to save her comrades. Frank is somewhat cynical and pessimistic due to his low self-esteem. He is also dutiful, loyal, and a natural battlefield commander. Frank is Asian-Canadian, is and average height, and has a large and stocky build, and uses his strength and weight to his advantage in a fight. He is has a babyish face, brown eyes, and black hair. Frank’s life is tied to a piece of driftwood, when the stick burns out, so will Frank’s life. He is related to Poseidon on his mother’s side and inherited the family gift of being able to shape-shift into any animal. From Mars, he inherits battle strategy, and is an expert when it comes to weaponry. His weapon of choice is a bow and arrow, but his father gives him magical spear for his birthday.
Essential Conflict
The Son of Neptune opens with Percy Jackson being chased by two gorgons, but while making his escape, he runs into an elderly woman named June who gives Percy the choice; to either her be at the mercy of the gorgon, or to carry her to the camp. Percy decides to carry the woman across the Little Tiber, in doing so he loses he Curse of Achilles. Upon reaching the camp Percy meets Hazel Levesque and Frank Zhang, then June reveals herself to be the goddess Juno, and introduces Percy to Camp Jupiter and warns him that the “Prophecy of Seven” is coming into play. Percy impresses the whole camp with his battle skills and instincts that are so different from the Roman style, being that Percy is Greek. During the war games, one member of the Fifth Cohort was found severely injured and died, only to come back to life shortly after. Mars comes and says the “Death loses his hold” and issues a quest-which includes Percy, Frank, and Hazel to free Thanatos, the god of Death. While traveling on the quest, Percy struggles to regain his memory, Hazel reveals that she died long ago, but her brother brought her back from Hades, and Frank admits that his life is tied to a piece of wood; if the wood burns up completely, he will die. After many events and monsters, such as basilisks, giants, and an unexpected meeting with the Amazons, the trio finally makes it to Alaska- the land beyond the gods- where they find Thanatos in icy chains that can only be broken by the Frank’s lifeline- the wood. Percy defends Frank while he melts Thanatos’ chains, losing more and more of his life while Hazel attacks Alcyoneus- the giant made to oppose Pluto. With the help of Hazel’s horse Arion; they dragged the giant out of Alaska and into Canada where he could be killed. Percy regains the rest his memory while the trio races back to Camp Jupiter, which is under attack. Percy takes charge and leads the Romans into battle with the aid of a few friends from Camp Half-Blood, and the Amazons. Percy defeats the Polybotes- the giant made to oppose Neptune- with the aid of Terminus, the Roman god of boarders. The camp names Percy a praetor- a leader at the Roman camp. The Greek demigods from Camp Half-Blood fly towards Camp Jupiter in a flying warship- the Argo II. The Romans argue about whether or not to attack, but Percy orders them to hold their fire. If the Greeks attack, Percy will be the one to blame, but he has no worries; putting his arms around Frank and Hazel, he approaches his “other family”.
Quotes 1. “Don’t know. Like I said, my memory is gone.” (31)
2.“Uh-oh. She shifted back in time… she’d just turned thirteen. But not last December – December 17,1941, the last day she had lived in New Orleans.” (69)
3. “You will go north and find Thanatos in the land beyond the gods. You will free him and thwart the plans of the giants. Beware Gaea! Beware her son, the eldest giant!” (148)
4. “You risked your life…You were willing to burn up to save the quest” (504)
5. “The demigods of Camp Half-Blood have already been working with Camp Jupiter” (510)
Themes Friendship and trust are some of the major themes in The Son of Neptune, by Rick Riordan. These themes are what drive the characters and make them willing to make supreme sacrifices and protect each other. Percy, Frank and Hazel are all changed by the support they receive from each other. As the story progresses, the trio grow even closer; Frank shares the fact that his life is tied to a piece of wood, and Hazel even confides in Percy and Frank. She admits that she should have died seventy yeas ago in Alaska. When Percy first arrived at the Roman camp, many people were suspicious of him; they did not think that they could rely him. He had to work hard to finally earn their trust, he did this by proving himself a worthy Roman; he “fought like a demon” and restored honor to Camp Jupiter. Even Percy is new to Camp Jupiter, and has not known Frank and Hazel for long, he already trusts them with his life. Frank trusts Hazel with his life- literally. He asks her to keep the wooden stick- his life line- with her for safekeeping. Friendship and trust are both play incredibly important roles in The Son of Neptune.
Commentary This book was absolutely amazing! Riordan never fails to amaze me with each and every one of his books. The Son of Neptune is the second book of the Heroes of Olympus series, and is just as engrossing as the previous, The lost Hero. I lose track of time whenever I read this book, it is almost as if you are really there on the quest with Percy, Hazel, and Frank! I love the fact that the story was told in multiple points of view, it was nice to be able to be inside the minds' of the three protagonists. I do not think that this book has any weak points at all. Some of the stronger points are when Hazel is having flashbacks to her previous life, and when each of the characters are facing certain issues, keeping secrets from each other, it almost feels real. Riordan is one of my all-time favorite authors, he is such a talented author, and his skill shows when the stories come to life.
By Anjli Patel
Title, Author, and Why I Chose This Book
The title of the book I chose is The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan. new series by Rick Riordan, this is the first of the three books that have comeThe Lost Hero is a I choses to read this book because prior to now, I read the I have fallen in love with the Percy Jackson Series, by Rick Riordan, and I have fallen in love with it. I was eager to read the spin-off series to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series! Rick Riordan is also one of my all-time favorite authors.
(Festus)
Genre
The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan fits into many genres. These genres includeAdolescent Fiction, Fantasy, Greek and Roman Mythology, and Adventure. Adolescent Fiction is a genre of The Lost Hero because it is a fiction book made to appeal to younger people. It appeals to them because they can relate better to people their age, like Jason, Piper, and Leo, who are all around the age of fifteen, rather than people younger or older than them. This makes the book that much more interesting, and engaging for the reader. The Lost Hero falls under genre of fantasy because it is based on events that could never happen in real life (like flying on a life-sized dragon who breathes fire). Jason, Piper, and Leo also have their own special ability that could only happen in the books, because of their parentage. “I have lightning and wind powers," Jason reminded him. "Piper can turn beautiful and charm people into giving her BMWs. You're no more a freak than we are. And, hey, maybe you can fly, too. Like jump off a building and yell 'Flame on!' "Leo snorted. "If I did that, you would see a flaming kid falling to his death, and I would be yelling something a little stronger than 'Flame on!” They are demi-gods, meaning half Olympian god, and half mortal. This is a reason that The Lost Hero falls under Greek and Roman Mythology; this is where they get their special powers from-Jason from Jupiter, Piper from Aphrodite, and Leo from Hephaestus. The Lost Hero is without a doubt falls under Adventure. The whole book is based off of Jason, Piper, and Leo's dangerous quest to rescue Hera and stop Gaea from awakening, where they battle monsters, and put their friendship, trust and loyalty to the test.
Summary
Jason knew the moment he woke up with absolutely no memory of who he was at the back of a school bus, that something is seriously wrong. Then there is Leo, who claims to be his best friend and Piper, who is supposed to be his girlfriend-both of whom he doesn't remember. But when Annabeth tells them that they are children of Greek Gods and Camp Half-Blood is the only safe haven for children like them, they have no idea what to expect next. As one bad news follows the next, there are rumors of a missing hero named Percy Jackson, and a Goddess who has supposedly been captured by unknown evil forces. Jason, Piper and Leo are three of the seven heroes of the Great Prophecy and they have to complete a dangerous new quest by the Winter Solstice before the evil wakes.
Characters
Jason Grace, Piper McLean, Leo Valdez
(Rachel Dare)
Big Ideas and Themes
Fate and Destiny are the biggest themes in The Lost Hero. Time and time again Jason Grace, Piper McLean, and Leo Valdez realize that they have been specifically chosen to rescue Queen Hera, and fulfill the Prophecy of Seven. The Lost Hero is focused around the prophecy issues by Rachel Dare-the current Oracle at Camp Half-Blood. "Child of Lightning, beware the earth" is the first line of the prophecy, meaning that Jason, as a child of Jupiter has to beware of the awakening of Gaea (the earth). "The giants' revenge the seven shall birth", this means that the Giants will rise up against the Olympians, and cause the appearance of the seven heroes of the Great Prophecy. "The forge and dove shall break the cage", the forge and dove represent Leo and Piper, the children of Hephaestus and Aphrodite. Leo and Piper have to work together to break the cage Hera was imprisoned in. "And death unleash, through Hera's rage.", this is the last and final line of the prophecy, Hera goes into her true Divine Form and kills all of the monsters except Porphyrion, almost killing Jason in the process. Since the Doors of Death are open, however, Piper uses her charmspeak to revive him, and bring his soul back from Hades. In the end, the prophecy was fulfilled- Hera was saved from her prison- and everything happened as it was said in the prophecy. No one can tamper with fate-not even the gods- if it is foretold in a prophecy, the prophecy must and will be carried out; Jason, Piper, and Leo all had their own role to play in the prophecy, and in the end, they fulfilled each of their roles.
(Gaea)
Main Conflict
As the book opens, Jason awakens with amnesia in a school bus full of kids his age on a field trip led by Coach Hedge to the Grand Canyon, next to Piper McLean and Leo Valdez, who say they are his girlfriend and best friend. When they arrive, storm spirits attacks them, and Coach Hedge-who revealed himself to be a satyr- was taken captive. After the battle, a flying chariot arrives to rescue them, and one of the people in it-Annabeth- is upset when she discovers that her missing boyfriend was not there as he should have been. Jason, Piper, and Leo are taken back to Camp Half-Blood, where they meet other Greek demigods like themselves, and are claimed by their Olympian parent-Leo is a son of Hephaestus, Piper is a daughter of Aphrodite, and Jason is a son of Zeus. Jason later discovers that he is the full brother of Zeus’ daughter, and Hunter of Artemis-Thalia Grace. They are given a quest to go save Hera-who has been captured- and prevent Gaea from awakening. Jason is reunited shortly with Thalia, who promises to meet Jason soon at the Wolf House-where Hera is being held captive. Jason, Piper, and Leo rush to Mt. Diablo, where Enceladus kidnapped Piper’s father. They manage to save Mr. McLean, and kill Enceladus, after which they rushed to the Wolf House to save Hera. Although Hera is saved, Porphyrion rises fully, and disappears in a hole in the Earth. Jason’s memory starts returning, and he remembers that he is a roman demi-god son of Jupiter, from a Roman Camp in San Francisco. He realizes that Hera (or Juno) had switched him with Percy Jackson, who will be at the Roman Camp with amnesia, in the hopes that the two camps would work together and defeat the goddess Gaea.
Symbolic Image (130)
(I drew Jason's branding tattoo)
Jason is like a bridge between the Greeks and Romans. Hera took him from Camp Jupiter (the Roman version of Camp Half-Blood) and sent him to Camp Half-Blood to earn their trust so that they would be able join forces and fulfill the Great Prophecy (or the Prophecy of Seven). Jason’s branding tattoo is the symbol of a Roman demigod, and it is an act of war for a Roman demigod to be in a Greek demigod camp. The initials SPQR are seen on Jason's arm with an eagle (Jupiter's symbol) and 12 bar lines for his 12 years of service in the legion. SPQR is the motto of the old Roman Empire. It stands for Senatus Populusque Romanus. In English, it translates to The Senate and the People of Rome.
Five Unusual Words
1. Aura- An aura is like a wind nymph, they are gentle breezes
"I'm an aura, sir. Awind nymph, as you might expect, working for the lord of the winds." (408)
2. Charmspeak- Charmspeak is a rare ability that only some children of Aphrodite possess. Charmspeak can be a powerful weapon because it hypnotizes people into doing anything on command.
"'The girl is a Venus spawn,' the lady Cyclops snarled. 'She's using charmspeak on you.'" (260)
3. Venti/Anemoi Thuellia- storm sprits.
"'Venti,' Jason said. 'Storm spirits.' The blonde girl arched an eyebrow. 'You mean anemoi thuellia? That's the Greek term.'" (29)
4. Ambrosia- Ambrosia is food of the gods (usually made in small squares), it can heal most injuries, but it is lethal to mortals. Demigods only use it during emergencies, because an extreme overdose can burn them to ashes.
"'Wait, what was that godly healing stuff they fed you at camp-Rambo food?' 'Ambrosia, dummy,' Piper said through gritted teeth." (240)
5. Earthborn- Earthborn are eight ft. tall giants with six arms that look like clay statues. They have superhuman strength, and they can summon large rocks in their hands.
"'What-what are those?' Her blade reflected the purple light of the bonfire."
''Gegenees'
"'In English?' Leo asked"
"'The Earthborn,' she said" (454)
Similar Existing Works
The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan is similar to The Red Pyramid, and the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series-also by Rick Riordan. This book reminds me of the Kane Chronicle book #1, The Red Pyramid, because in The Red Pyramid, the main characters Sadie and Carter find out that the ancient Egyptian gods are still very much alive. Although The Heroes of Olympus is a spin-off series from the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the first book in both series’ have many similarities. The Lightning Thief is similar to The Lost Hero because Percy, Jason, Piper, and Leo had no knowledge that they were demigods, or even that the gods still existed, up until they were brought to Camp Half-Blood. The four of them were also secretly watched over by protectors, who where Grover-in Percy’s case, and Coach Hedge for Jason, Piper, and Leo. Percy’s mother was taken captive by Hades, like the giants took Piper’s father captive. In both books, the main character went on a quest, accompanied by two friends of their choosing. In the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the Great Prophecy took place, and Percy was the ‘Child of the eldest gods’ or in other words, the demigod whom the prophecy was about. Now, in The Heroes of Olympus series, we find out that the next Great Prophecy is coming into play. It is obvious in The Lost Hero that Jason, Piper, and Leo are three of the ‘Seven half-bloods’ of the next Great Prophecy. The other four half-bloods of the Great Prophecy appear in the later books of The Heroes of Olympus series.
goodreads.com Link
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/430208131
The Son of Neptune
By: Rick Riordan
Synopsis
Percy Jackson is the demigod son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. He wakes up from a very deep sleep with no memory or recollection of his past; the only thing that he does remember is the name Annabeth. Stheno and Euryale, two gorgons who were seeking revenge on Percy because, have been pursuing him since he awoke; the only problem is that they refuse to die. Percy soon finds himself at a Roman camp for half-bloods- Camp Jupiter. There is only one thing that is certain- Percy’s questing days are not over, he and his new friends Frank Zhang and Hazel Levesque find out that they are to play a role in the Great Prophecy. While at the Roman camp, Percy, Frank, and Hazel are issued a quest by Mars himself. If they fail, not only is Camp Jupiter at stake, but Percy’s old life, the gods, and the entire world may be destroyed.
Characters
Essential Conflict
The Son of Neptune opens with Percy Jackson being chased by two gorgons, but while making his escape, he runs into an
elderly woman named June who gives Percy the choice; to either her be at the mercy of the gorgon, or to carry her to the camp. Percy decides to carry the woman across the Little Tiber, in doing so he loses he Curse of Achilles. Upon reaching the camp Percy meets Hazel Levesque and Frank Zhang, then June reveals herself to be the goddess Juno, and introduces Percy to Camp Jupiter and warns him that the “Prophecy of Seven” is coming into play. Percy impresses the whole camp with his battle skills and instincts that are so different from the Roman style, being that Percy is Greek. During the war games, one member of the Fifth Cohort was found severely injured and died, only to come back to life shortly after. Mars comes and says the “Death loses his hold” and issues a quest-which includes Percy, Frank, and Hazel to free Thanatos, the god of Death. While traveling on the quest, Percy struggles to regain his memory, Hazel reveals that she died long ago, but her brother brought her back from Hades, and Frank admits that his life is tied to a piece of wood; if the wood burns up completely, he will die. After many events and monsters, such as basilisks, giants, and an unexpected meeting with the Amazons, the trio finally makes it to Alaska- the land beyond the gods- where they find Thanatos in icy chains that can only be broken by the Frank’s lifeline- the wood. Percy defends Frank while he melts Thanatos’ chains, losing more and more of his life while Hazel attacks Alcyoneus- the giant made to oppose Pluto. With the help of Hazel’s horse Arion; they dragged the giant out of Alaska and into Canada where he could be killed. Percy regains the rest his memory while the trio races back to Camp Jupiter, which is under attack. Percy takes charge and leads the Romans into battle with the aid of a few friends from Camp Half-Blood, and the Amazons. Percy defeats the Polybotes- the giant made to oppose Neptune- with the aid of Terminus, the Roman god of boarders. The camp names Percy a praetor- a leader at the Roman camp. The Greek demigods from Camp Half-Blood fly towards Camp Jupiter in a flying warship- the Argo II. The Romans argue about whether or not to attack, but Percy orders them to hold their fire. If the Greeks attack, Percy will be the one to blame, but he has no worries; putting his arms around Frank and Hazel, he approaches his “other family”.
Quotes
1. “Don’t know. Like I said, my memory is gone.” (31)
2. “Uh-oh. She shifted back in time… she’d just turned thirteen. But not last December – December 17,1941, the last day she had lived in New Orleans.” (69)
3. “You will go north and find Thanatos in the land beyond the gods. You will free him and thwart the plans of the giants. Beware Gaea! Beware her son, the eldest giant!” (148)
4. “You risked your life…You were willing to burn up to save the quest” (504)
5. “The demigods of Camp Half-Blood have already been working with Camp Jupiter” (510)
Themes
Friendship and trust are some of the major themes in The Son of Neptune, by Rick Riordan. These themes are what drive the characters and make them willing to make supreme sacrifices and protect each other. Percy, Frank and Hazel are all changed by the support they receive from each other. As the story progresses, the trio grow even closer; Frank shares the fact that his life is tied to a piece of wood, and Hazel even confides in Percy and Frank. She admits that she should have died seventy yeas ago in Alaska. When Percy first arrived at the Roman camp, many people were suspicious of him; they did not think that they could rely him. He had to work hard to finally earn their trust, he did this by proving himself a worthy Roman; he “fought like a demon” and restored honor to Camp Jupiter. Even Percy is new to Camp Jupiter, and has not known Frank and Hazel for long, he already trusts them with his life. Frank trusts Hazel with his life- literally. He asks her to keep the wooden stick- his life line- with her for safekeeping. Friendship and trust are both play incredibly important roles in The Son of Neptune.
Commentary
This book was absolutely amazing! Riordan never fails to amaze me with each and every one of his books. The Son of Neptune is the second book of the Heroes of Olympus series, and is just as engrossing as the previous, The lost Hero. I lose track of time whenever I read this book, it is almost as if you are really there on the quest with Percy, Hazel, and Frank! I love the fact that the story was told in multiple points of view, it was nice to be able to be inside the minds' of the three protagonists. I do not think that this book has any weak points at all. Some of the stronger points are when Hazel is having flashbacks to her previous life, and when each of the characters are facing certain issues, keeping secrets from each other, it almost feels real. Riordan is one of my all-time favorite authors, he is such a talented author, and his skill shows when the stories come to life.
Goodreads Link
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/482115020